Federal officials are preparing for what they describe as “one of the most ambitious and complex vaccination programs” ever delivered in Canada.
Dr. Howard Njoo, the country’s deputy chief public health officer, said the initial supply of COVID-19 vaccines is expected early next year.
“We will immunize as many Canadians as possible, as quickly as possible, and ensure that high-risk populations are prioritized,” said Njoo.
Njoo said the country has already negotiated agreements with seven “promising vaccine manufacturers.”
But not every Canadian who wants to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will be able to get a vaccine during the initial round.
“The initial supply of these vaccines will be limited such that we will be able to vaccinate about three million Canadians,” said Njoo. “That means we need to be strategic about who will be vaccinated first.”
Njoo said the National Advisory Committee on Immunization is expected to publish new guidance in the coming days to further refine key populations to be vaccinated.
But the deputy chief public health officer reiterated that the country is “well-positioned” to offer vaccines to every Canadian in 2021.
“Having said that, in a country as geographically large and diverse as ours, we are facing some logistical complexities,” said Njoo. “The need for ultra-cold storage for specific vaccines, reaching remote communities and coordinating between orders of government, just to name a few.”
“Typically, the vaccines go from the manufacturer to the provinces and territories. However, certain COVID-19 vaccines will require a different approach due to their novel nature. They will have different sets of logistical considerations.”
Vaccines requiring ultra-cold storage will be delivered directly by the manufacturer while others will be transported by a federally-contracted provider, said Njoo.
He said the Canadian Armed Forces and the Public Health Agency of Canada will work together on delivering the vaccines to provinces and territories, who will be responsible for administering them.
